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Professor James McWha, Vice-Chancellor and President The University of Adelaide

Message from the Vice-Chancellor and President

Welcome to the University of Adelaide web site, the global face of one of Australia's oldest and finest universities. Our site provides a comprehensive look at the University and highlights the strengths that have made us one of Australia's leading higher educational institutions.

Our Mission
The mission of the University of Adelaide is to be recognised internationally as a great research university and an Australian leader in research and teaching excellence, committed to making a positive impact on the lives of our students, staff and alumni as well as the local, national and international communities.

Higher education is one of the most important issues for Australia's social, cultural and economic future. Universities offer the community a range of options for education and training, advance the frontiers of knowledge, and are at the forefront of developing new ways of learning and teaching to meet society's needs.

Learning and Quality
The University of Adelaide strives to offer the highest quality of campus-based undergraduate and postgraduate education in a broad range of fields. We place a high value on learning, and we support our beliefs with student-centred learning using the best resources.

Research
We have an exceptional national and international reputation for research. The University of Adelaide also has a long tradition of working in partnership with industry and other organisations to ensure our research expertise is translated into tangible benefits for the Australian community.

Community Engagement
Since its foundation in 1874, the University of Adelaide has been at the heart of South Australian life, shaping its community and culture. Our graduates have been equipped for leadership in their chosen field by providing an environment where they are encouraged to develop independence of thought, creativity and confidence.

Reconciliation
The University of Adelaide is committed to the process of reconciliation and the elimination of injustice and disadvantage in respect of the rights of Australia's Indigenous peoples and to their self-determination within the life of the nation. In the 2003 Statement of Reconciliation and the 2006 Indigenous Employment Strategy, we enunciated the principles that underpin our commitment, and in 2007, we literally set our support for national reconciliation in stone in a magnificent Reconciliation Monument at the entrance to our main campus.

Future directions
In 2003, the University committed to a strategy for managed growth in response to an analysis that clearly indicated that the University's future was best secured by consolidating its reputation as an internationally focused, research-intensive university with a broad discipline base.

By 2007 the University had met or exceeded most growth targets. Student numbers have increased by 20% or more, revenue has doubled, and new academic programs have been established in areas of demand and community need.

For 2008-12, we have adopted a new Strategic Plan, Building a Great Research University, that maintains our existing directions while affirming our strong tradition of innovation through high-impact research, our national and international leadership and quality in research, and our determination to pursue even higher aspirations.

Among our many new ventures, 2008 sees the establishment of a School of Veterinary Science, while preliminary work on a $100 million world-class development for Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science is well underway.

The University of Adelaide is a growing, internationally focussed and financially sustainable institution, enterprising in its approach to new opportunities as they arise, and clear and consistent in its essential directions. We provide a vibrant intellectual environment that is satisfying for staff, rewarding for students, and engaging of the community, engendering a sense of pride in our contribution to contemporary society.

Our web site is a reflection of our past achievements and future aims. I hope you enjoy your visit.